Farmers Invited to Field Day at Borderview Research Farm

Alburgh--On Aug. 1 farmers can learn about the latest research and developments in corn, small-scale grain and hops production; aerial cover crop seeding; pasture irrigation systems and more at the annual University of Vermont (UVM) Extension Crops and Soils Field Day in Alburgh.

The UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program will host the event at the Borderview Research Farm, 146 Line Rd., from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m. with a tour of the farm's many field research trials starting at 10 a.m. sharp.

Registration is free for farmers. Non-farmers are welcome to attend for a $20 fee. Lunch featuring local products will be provided.

Please register by July 26. If requiring a disability-related accommodation to attend, call Brouillette by July 25.

The focus of the annual field day will be on strategic farming practices for weather extremes. Several demonstrations will be held throughout the day including use of a low-cost pod-line irrigation system for pastures and forages, aerial cover crop seeding by helicopter and seeding with Pennsylvania State University's new cover crop inner seeder.

Farmers will hear about the opportunities and challenges of reduced tillage and vertical tillage and have the chance to view a no-till drill, manure injector, corn planters, advanced aeration systems, strip tillers and other equipment. Members of a UVM research team, which addresses the impact of climate change on Vermont farms, will be on hand to demonstrate greenhouse gas collection and water quality tools.

The field day offers an opportunity to learn about growing grains in Vermont with demonstrations of specialized mini combines and small-scale drying and cleaning equipment. In addition, farmers can view hop harvesting and storage equipment in the hopyard and hear about the new UVM new hop quality testing lab and growing cover crops, including how the latter impacts both pests and beneficial insects.

The UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils program, led by UVM Extension agronomist Dr. Heather Darby, currently conducts more than 40 different crop and soil experiments at the research farm with small grains, wheat, corn, sunflowers, canola, soybeans, perennial grasses and other crops. The farm is owned by Roger Rainville, a former dairy farmer, who assists with the research projects including preparing, seeding and harvesting the plots along with other tasks.